Asynchronous network system, information processing apparatus, data-transmission managing method, data-reception managing method, and program

Abstract

An asynchronous network system includes a transmitting apparatus which transmits time-synchronization-information data through an asynchronous network, and information processing apparatuses which share identical time information by receiving the time-synchronization-information data. At least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed is transmitted by one information processing apparatus among the information processing apparatuses to at least one of the other information processing apparatuses in a state in which the one information processing apparatus occupies a first interval on a communication schedule based on time-synchronization information represented by the time-synchronization-information data.

1 . An asynchronous network system comprising: 
 a transmitting apparatus which transmits time-synchronization-information data through an asynchronous network; and    a plurality of information processing apparatuses which share identical time information by receiving the time-synchronization-information data,    wherein at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed is transmitted by one information processing apparatus among said plurality of information processing apparatuses to at least one of the other information processing apparatuses in a state in which said one information processing apparatus occupies a first interval on a communication schedule based on time-synchronization information represented by the time-synchronization-information data.    
   
   
       2 . The asynchronous network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one data item whose transmission and reception within the predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed is control data for instructing each of said plurality of information processing apparatus to perform an operation.  
   
   
       3 . The asynchronous network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of information processing apparatuses are pieces of video equipment.  
   
   
       4 . The asynchronous network system according to  claim 3 , wherein the pieces of video equipment are pieces of broadcasting equipment.  
   
   
       5 . The asynchronous network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting apparatus which transmits the time-synchronization-information data is provided in one of said plurality of information processing apparatuses.  
   
   
       6 . The asynchronous network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the other information processing apparatuses includes a determining section which monitors reception of at least one data item whose transmission and reception in the first interval are needed to be guaranteed and which determines whether or not data is successfully received in a second interval on the communication schedule.  
   
   
       7 . The asynchronous network system according to claim  6 , wherein said at least one of the other information processing apparatuses includes a reporting section which reports the result of the determination by said determining section to said one information processing apparatus which transmits said at least one data item.  
   
   
       8 . An information processing apparatus for sharing identical time information with at least one different information processing apparatus existing on an asynchronous network, 
 the information processing apparatus comprising a transmitter which transmits, in a state in which said transmitter occupies a first interval on a communication schedule based on the identical time information as time-synchronization information, to said at least one different information processing apparatus, at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed.    
   
   
       9 . An information processing apparatus for sharing identical time information with at least one different information processing apparatus existing on an asynchronous network, 
 the information processing apparatus comprising a determining section which determines whether or not at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed and which is transmitted from said at least one different information processing apparatus has normally been received within the predetermined reaching time.    
   
   
       10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a reporting section which reports the result of the determination by said determining section to said at least one different information processing apparatus which transmits said at least one data item.  
   
   
       11 . A data-transmission managing method for an asynchronous network system including a transmitting apparatus for transmitting time-synchronization-information data through an asynchronous network and a plurality of information processing apparatuses which share identical time information by receiving the time-synchronization-information data, 
 the data-transmission managing method comprising the step of transmitting, by one information processing apparatus among said plurality of information processing apparatuses, in a state of occupying a first interval on a communication schedule based on time-synchronization information represented by the time-synchronization-information data, to at least one of the other information processing apparatuses, at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed.    
   
   
       12 . A data-transmission managing method for an asynchronous network system including a transmitting apparatus for transmitting time-synchronization-information data through an asynchronous network and a plurality of information processing apparatuses which share identical time information by receiving the time-synchronization-information data, 
 the data-transmission managing method comprising the step of, by one information processing apparatus among said plurality of information processing apparatuses, determining whether or not at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed and which is transmitted from at least one of the other information processing apparatuses has normally been received within the predetermined reaching time.    
   
   
       13 . A program for allowing a computer to execute processing, the computer controlling the operation of an information processing apparatus which shares identical time information with at least one different information processing apparatus existing on an asynchronous network, 
 the processing comprising the step of transmitting, in a state of occupying a first interval on a communication schedule based on the identical time information as time-synchronization information, to said at least one different information processing apparatus, at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed.    
   
   
       14 . A program for allowing a computer to execute processing, the computer controlling the operation of an information processing apparatus which shares identical time information with at least one different information processing apparatus existing on an asynchronous network, 
 the processing comprising the step of determining whether or not at least one data item whose transmission and reception within a predetermined reaching time are requested to be guaranteed and which is transmitted from said at least one different information processing apparatus has normally been received in the predetermined reaching time.